Chapter 117
Chapter Title: The Calm Before the Storm
Tony sat there, his usually confident demeanor now replaced by something Myra couldn’t quite decipher. His face, usually a picture of arrogance and certainty, was now etched with lines of concern, his eyes darker than usual. Myra had never seen him like this before.
She was curious, even more so when he used her name—something he usually avoided unless it was necessary.
“Why do you say so?” she asked, trying to keep her tone neutral.
The sun streamed in through the window on Tony’s side, casting long shadows that flickered across his face. He looked every bit the formidable man he was, but in that moment, there was something about him that seemed uncharacteristically vulnerable. His piercing gaze met hers, his lips curving into a tight line.
“Are you sure you don’t want to get together with me?” His voice was low, almost casual, as though he didn’t mean for the words to carry so much weight.
Myra’s heart skipped. Before she could gather her thoughts, he pulled her into an embrace. The suddenness of it caught her off guard. His arms were strong around her, yet the hold was gentle, almost comforting.
“You don’t have to answer now,” he whispered, his breath warm against her ear. “If you’re going to reject me, I’d rather you just don’t answer at all.”
Myra’s chest tightened, her breath catching in her throat. She could feel the walls she’d built around her heart cracking, piece by piece, with each passing second. His words, his touch—they were like a force she couldn’t resist, even if she wanted to.
“I…” Myra’s voice faltered. Her mind raced, but the words eluded her. She stood frozen in his arms, unsure whether to respond, unsure if she even could.
Sensing her hesitation, Tony released her slowly, his grip softening. “You should go,” he said with a sigh, his expression unreadable.
She felt a pang in her chest, a mix of regret and longing. The urge to stay, to tell him everything, was overwhelming. But instead, she nodded, pushing the emotion back down. Without a word, she pulled herself from his embrace and stepped out of the car.
She wanted to shout after him, to tell him that once her divorce was final, maybe she would be ready. But the words caught in her throat, and she simply turned her back on him, walking toward the Chase residence with a heavy heart.
Tony watched her leave, his expression inscrutable. Something in his gaze seemed lost, distant. His usual self-assurance was nowhere to be found. The usual urgency, the need for control, had given way to something softer, more uncertain.
He wasn’t sure anymore if he was doing the right thing. Was he using her? Or was there something more here, something deeper that even he couldn’t fully understand?
As Myra made her way to the house, her thoughts were clouded. She had come here with the intention of finalizing her divorce, but now, with everything weighing on her, she wasn’t sure what she wanted anymore.
Inside, Eve and Sean sat at the dinner table, the air heavy with unspoken tension. Myra could feel the weight of the past hanging over her. She thought back to the first time she met Sean, the excitement, the hope she had felt. But now, all of that was gone. She couldn’t even remember the last time he had shown her anything other than indifference. And then there was Lyla—his first love, the woman who had always come before her, the woman he would choose in the end.
A cold bitterness crept into her heart as she recalled how quickly Sean had rushed to divorce her and marry Lyla. She’d never been more certain of anything than she was now: she had lost him, and there was no point in holding on to something that had already slipped away.
Raising her wine glass, Myra addressed Sean in a steady voice. “Despite everything, I want to make one thing clear. I’ve never had anything to do with Lyla’s miscarriage. Whatever you’ve been told, I had no part in it.”
Sean, caught off guard by her directness, held up his glass awkwardly. Myra could see the disbelief in his eyes, but she didn’t care. The truth was out, and that was all that mattered.
“Also, regarding the Hilliville Project,” she continued, her tone unyielding. “I never betrayed the company. I don’t know where these rumors came from, but I’ve always been loyal.”
Eve, sensing the tension, quickly intervened, her voice soft and reassuring. “Myra, we’ve always trusted you. We know your character. This is all in the past. Let’s not dwell on it.”
Myra met Eve’s gaze and offered a small smile. Despite everything, she still appreciated Eve’s kindness. She was grateful for the woman who had treated her like a daughter all these years.
“Thank you, Mrs. Chase,” Myra said, her voice sincere. “I know you’ve always looked out for me. I’ve gotten the contact details for a specialist about your back. Please take better care of yourself.”
She handed Eve the business card, and Eve took it with a smile, though there was a hint of guilt in her eyes.
The dinner ended uneventfully, but Myra could feel the weight of the moment pressing on her. She had come here with the intention of moving forward, but now she wasn’t so sure. As Eve suggested she take a nap, Myra agreed. The exhaustion of the past weeks, combined with the emotional toll, had left her feeling drained.
Once in her room, Myra lay down on the bed, staring up at the ceiling, but sleep didn’t come easily. Her mind kept returning to Tony, to the tenderness in his eyes, to the embrace she had allowed herself to sink into. Was it too late? Would she ever be able to love again?
Meanwhile, downstairs, Sean stood alone, staring at Myra’s identification card, lost in thought. He remembered the day they had taken this photo together, her radiant smile like a beacon of hope. It was a smile he hadn’t seen in years.
His fingers traced the edge of the card, a feeling of guilt creeping over him. He had pushed her away, driven her to this point. But was it too late to fix things?
He couldn’t shake the unease building inside him. Could it be regret? The thought troubled him. He had no feelings for Myra anymore—hadn’t he already moved on? But still, as he looked at her smiling face, something stirred deep inside him.
Eve, too, was weighed down by her own sense of guilt, her own role in the unraveling of Myra’s marriage. She knew things could never go back to how they were. But perhaps, for Myra’s sake, it was better that way.
Later that night, Myra awoke from her nap, disoriented and groggy. The events of the day felt like a blur, but she knew one thing for certain: the path ahead would not be easy.
And for the first time in a long time, she wasn’t sure where it would lead.